Home Improvement tips, news, and ideas for great life

I bet I can guess what really bugs you about seasons changing! While we never invite them into our home, little critters seem to find their way in, even if you keep a clean home. From a trail of ants to a scampering mouse, it’s time to show them the way out. It all starts with preventative measures to ensure your home stays bug-free.

If you have small children, pets or like to keep harmful chemicals out of the house, using a commercial product to eradicate your uninvited guests might be out of the question. The good news is that many natural pest control solutions exist, starting with prevention. Here are a few DIY ways you can keep unwelcomed guests out of your home.

While you might be able to take care of a few bugs here and there, a large infestation will require the help of a pro. Contact a pro today for up to four quotes from contractors in your area for free.

Staircases can see a lot of foot traffic. While many are designed to last, that doesn’t mean they will always stay in perfect condition. With so many people moving up and down, you can expect to see some wear and tear over time.

However, some instances can be dangerous to your family. A small crack in the wood can lead to a dangerous situation if not taken care of properly. While you may not realize it, your stairs may be telling you they’re in need of repair. How can you tell? See the signs that it’s time to repair your stairs.

If you suspect something may be wrong with your stairs, it’s good to know that stair repair is just a phone call away. Unless you have a background in carpentry, a pro must be called to help identify the problem and provide a solution. The average cost to repair stairs or railings is $597, with most homeowners spending between $361 and $678. This depends on the extent of the damage to your stairs and

At the end of the day, where do you go to unwind? A spa-like bathroom can be the remedy for a stressful day. Your bathroom is beautiful, so it should smell beautiful too! Mold, mildew and waste can make this a daily challenge. With use and over time, these smells seem to grow stronger.

Majority of unpleasant bathroom scents grow stronger with time. So it’s important to take care of them as soon as you recognize it. Never fear, there are solutions to create a great smelling bathroom. Eliminate odors and freshen up with these bathroom tips.

Clean It Up

Bathrooms tend to have a lot going on that can easily cause a mess. If you don’t have one already, create a cleaning routine for the bathroom. Clean the shower, bathtub, sink, toilet and floors thoroughly. Using a daily shower spray can help.

Fabrics in the bathroom like towels and shower curtains tend to hold the moisture and can create a musty smell. Be sure to wash these regularly to keep the bathroom smelling fresh.

While our homes are beautiful, they are also a place where a family must function harmoniously. If you have a family member that requires special accommodations, I’m sure you want to do everything you can to make sure they are comfortable.

While remodeling for accessibility is important, there are smaller things you should be doing around your house to make movement and functionality less challenging. They may seem like details, but they can make a huge difference in home accessibility. See a few ways you can improve your home for universal design and function.

Install An Elevator Or Chairlift

If you live in a two-story home, simply removing stairs is not an option to help those with mobility issues travel up and down. A chairlift or an elevator can be helpful to all. While the costs are significant, adding a chairlift or elevator can increase your home’s value. The average cost to install an elevator or chairliftis $16,397, with most homeowners spending between $3,004 and $5,849.

Build A Wheelchair Ramp

For those coming in from outside, a wheelchair ramp can improve overall accessibility to your home. Even if you have one or two steps to your entryway, this can pose a problem for those with

DIY has taken the home improvement world by storm. Homeowners are discovering more of what they can do themselves. With technology readily available, it’s easy to find instructions and videos on how to complete the project you desire.

However, there are certainly some projects that shouldn’t be DIY-ed. A skilled professional can help you avoid any damage to you or your home, ensuring the project is done correctly. Before you begin your next DIY home project, see our list of what you should leave to the pros.

1. Electrical Work

Outside of replacing a light fixture, you should leave most electrical projects to the pros. Unless you have the skilled ability and background knowledge on the wiring system in your house, it’s best to leave it to a pro. Not only are you putting yourself at risk of electrocution, but an electrical fire can cause significant damage to your home. An electrical pro can ensure the work you need is done safely.

2. Wall Removal & Structural Changes

So, you want a new open floor plan kitchen and living room. It’s as easy as taking down a wall, right? Think again. You don’t know what’s hiding behind a wall as well as what it could

For those who love to DIY, it’s likely you have plenty of paint brushes in your home. Instead of letting them sit in the corner, waiting for your next project, try a few alternative ways to use a paint brush in your home.

From cleaning up a small home improvement task to spring cleaning, you can get these jobs done more efficiently with the help of a paint brush. Our friends at MyFixItUpLife are here to share with you three ways you may have not considered using a paint brush before.

Alternative Ways To Use A Paint Brush

Removing debris from computer keyboards

Dusting fabric lampshades

Removing cobwebs

Cleaning up dry food spills in the kitchen

Conclusion

Paint brushes aren’t the only item you can start to utilize differently. Consider what other things you have around your house that can be used for a different purpose to get a second life out of them.

From old to new, the trees in your yard need proper care to thrive and look their best. Trees can be beneficial to any yard. Not only do they help the environment by reducing pollution, they also improve the value of your home and cut utility costs.

The benefits of trees in your yard are truly endless, but an unhealthy tree can cause problems for you that cost you money and curb appeal. See seven tree maintenance tips that will help keep the trees in your yard healthy and happy.

1. Regular Tree Maintenance

Regular tree maintenance can mean a variety of things. From tree trimming to regular watering, entrusting your trees to a pro can mean a longer and healthier life for them. It also has the benefit of taking that landscaping project off your plate. The average cost of tree maintenance is $425, with most homeowners spending between $247 and $470.

2. Tree Trimming

Much like we all need a haircut every few weeks, trees need to be trimmed to maintain their beautiful, healthy appearance. Tree trimming is a task you can do yourself or with the help of a landscaping pro. Regular tree trimming is important to remove dead branches and leaves

As a prominent feature in your kitchen, the countertops see a lot of traffic. For most of us, the counter is a place for more than just food prep. Children may sit here during homework time or it can be a gathering place for weekend entertaining. With so many daily functions, it’s important to guarantee a clean kitchen countertop for your health and aethstetics.

Finding what works to keep your countertop clean might be a challenge. But we’re here to share solutions to ensure a clean and functional kitchen countertop for all to enjoy.

1. Refinish Your Countertops

In some cases, your countertops can look old and worn. No amount of cleaning product can bring your countertop back to life again. Many homeowners worry they must replace their entire countertop, but refinishing can make it look new again for a lower price. The price largely depends on the type of finish you choose. Here’s what you can budget for:

Epoxy Finish: $2.92 to $7.17/sf

Laminate: $1.67 to $4.18/sf

Paint & Sealant: $1.17 to $2.33/sf

2. Know Your Countertop Material

Before you start cleaning the countertop, know what material it is and what solutions will work best. From butcher block wood to ceramic tile, a cleaning solution that works on

Depending on their placement in your home, your stairs can be a prominent decorative feature that shouldn’t be overlooked. The stair risers present a unique opportunity to decorate your space and give your stairwell a fresh, new look.

If you’re feeling stuck on how to decorate your stair rises, don’t worry, there are plenty of options. From traditional and timeless to bright and colorful, see a few decorative stair riser ideas.

What Is A Stair Riser?

While you may think about your stairs as one complete set, there are many parts that make up your stairs. The stair riser and tread are the two major parts that make up a staircase. The stair tread is what your foot lands on as you walk up the stairs and the riser is the vertical support that fills the space between each tread. According to the International Association Of Certified Home Inspectors, the average height of a stair riser should be between 4” and 7 ¾”.

Before you consider your stair riser décor, you should inspect your steps to be sure they’re in good shape. With average wear and tear, creaks and squeaks can occur due to gaps occurring between the tread and riser. With older stairs,

Water is vital. We use it to drink, cook and clean with. Of course, we want the best for our families and that’s why having clean water is so important. It impacts the health of all those who enter.

Do you stop to consider where your water comes from? This all differs on where you live, but tap water is treated with chemicals to eliminate bacteria and other contaminants. Some of these chemicals, however, you may not want in your body when you reach for a glass of water. If you’re ready to take control of what’s coming into your house, see a few water purification options for your home.

What’s In Your Water?

While you may be comfortable drinking water directly from the tap, depending on where you live, you could be ingesting harmful materials. You might not be able to taste or see it, but your tap water can contain chemicals, bacteria, debris and more from your municipality. Here are few contaminates you can find in tap water according to the EPA:

Chlorine

Fluoride

Lead

Nitrate

Viruses

Water Filtration System Costs

The best way to eliminate unwanted chemicals and contaminants from the water is with a filtration system. This helps rid tap water of impurities and can provide

There’s nothing worse than sharing your home with an unwelcomed guest, especially when they can cause so much damage to your home. Small rodents can cause problems both in and out of your home, with a mess left for you to take care of.

The discovery of small rodents in the home is certainly a surprise to both you and the animal. The process of safely eliminating can be a challenge for all. It’s important to make every effort as humane as possible too. However, the first step to eliminating small rodents from your home is prevention. Here are a few tips to do so.

Small Rodent List

You may be wondering what qualifies as a small rodent. It could be any mammal, from a hamster to a rat. But for this article, we’ll be focusing on the animals we don’t typically take in as pets. Here are a few of the small rodents you don’t want in or around your house:

Mice

Rats

Squirrels

Rabbits

Opossums

Raccoons

Pest Control Costs

While there are many humane DIY options available for pest control, it’s a good idea to prepare for any costs that might be associated before purchasing materials or deciding to call a pro. The average cost to hire an animal

New innovations are changing the way we experience entertainment. For those who love having the newest technology in your home, it’s likely you have new home theater equipment on your mind. If you don’t have the latest audio/visual equipment for your home, you could be missing out.

From voice control to home automation, there’s a new technology available that can change the way you experience home entertainment. See what’s hot in audio/visual technology and how you can utilize it in your home.

Home Theater Costs

To have the latest and greatest in audio visual equipment, an upgrade to a home theater is necessary. While costs can vary depending on the technology updates you decide to make, there are other costs to consider such as getting all your new equipment to work properly. It’s best to contact an audio/visual technician who can help properly hook up your equipment and hide your wiring. The average cost to install home theater wiring or components is $363, with most homeowners spending between $216 and $379.

Home Automation

At the forefront at new technology, home automation systems are taking center stage. From ensuring your front door is locked to adjusting the thermostat, it seems to be able to do it